Need Advice on Rifle...

On September 7th I'll be turning 16... My parents have asked me what I wanted for my birthday, as normal. Being avid outdoors men and having lost our latest hunting spot, we have picked out an area to hunt in, in a rifle zone, meaning we can use rifles to hunt deer, and bear. I, not having a rilfe immediately thought about asking for one, I asked for the generic stuff, like a new laptop, Lacrosse equipment, Fishtank stuff, but none of them have been like... I REALLY want this. I don't need a lecture about safe and proper gun handling, I have been around them my whole life and know a good deal about them, i.e. know whats behind your target, don't soot rifles in the air, The safety isn't a guarantee, identify your target before shooting, etc...

What i'm really looking for is something that won't blow my shoulder off, im not a really big guy, 6'2" 140, so a 30-06 isn't really what im looking for (I hear 30-30 is a really good deer rifle), and that can be accurate (It's the guy shooting it, not the gun, but you want something you know will throw lead where you point it), Preferably not a lever action, but i'm open to suggestions

Thanks, if anything I said doesn't make sense just ask, I've got a lot going through me head right now and I have gotten distracted several times while writing this

....What i'm really looking for is something that won't blow my shoulder off, im not a really big guy, 6'2" 140, so a 30-06 isn't really what im looking for (I hear 30-30 is a really good deer rifle), and that can be accurate (It's the guy shooting it, not the gun, but you want something you know will throw lead where you point it), Preferably not a lever action, but i'm open to suggestions
.....

If we are going to limit ourselves to 100yrds or less you can go to a .308. You find out of the box Rem. & Savage will do 1 moa or better. Plenty of bullet to drop a deer or bear with proper placement.

If you'll hold yourself to 75yrds or less do not scoff at a Marlin lever. You can go with a .44mag and you'll see it's a very manageable. I could consistently hit bowling pins at 75 yrds with mine with open sights.

Finally if you'll hold to 50 yards, you can go with a 12g a. & slugs. Google search Knoxx Stocks I have on on my 870 and the felt recoil is closer to a 20 ga. with a winter coat more like .410.

However, read the OPs post, he's got it in his head that's more rifle than he wants to deal with. He's a young shooter, better he gains confidence with something he's comfortable with that develop poor shooting habits with more gun that he's ready for.

I prefer a 45-70. I honestly would be a a bit "reserved" about .458 Lott or a .470 Nitro Express

Like said before, I am a younger shooter and have little experience with Rifles, I'd rather not go for something that powerful right off the bat, I get they can be great guns, it's just I would prefer to start off with something I can learn on.

75-100 Yards is sort of what im looking for range wise, I don't plan on shooting at a deer 3 miles away

I do however need some clarification with calibers, I get the general, 30-06, 30-30. I also get that the caliber is based off of the amount of powder in the cartridge? I know that .22 is a small round with a smaller amount of powder in it. Just a basic explanation would work, I don't plan on re-loading at this point

I've been looking at Remington's and the 700 has obviously caught my eye, Only comes in larger calibers it seems, the Model Seven has also caught my eye, I'd go for the Synthetic seeing as the likely hood of me getting it wet and or bumping it against things is relatively high. I'm just going to copy and paste the stats...

Cannot beat a Marlin lever action 30-30. Have taken down anything from armadillos to big Axis bucks with it. Good to 100yds and the new leverevolution ammo by hornady can give you more confidence farther out.

Nothing like going John Wayne either with a lever action for fun too haha

The Remington 700 does come in smaller calibers. I recommend getting the SPS and upgrading the stock and trigger. I know the BDL and CDL are very popular.
I learned on a 30-06 when I first started. What I was trying to say earlier is that I don't think its too much gun for someone your size. Plus you are 16 and likely going to put on some height and weight still.
But if you want to start smaller I could consider the 243. If you are not reloading then I would stick to the more popular calibers so you have more bullet choices. The 223 is great but in some states it is not legal for deer. Some states do allow it. I'd check out the 223, 243, 22-250 and 308. All are fairly similar in kick.
That being said, there is no better gun to learn on than a 22lr. If you were not going to deer hunt I would for sure get a 22lr and learn the basics. I have a fair amount of firearms and my 22lr is probably the most fun to shoot. It's cheap, fun to mod and anyone can shoot it. Try putting some peanut butter on a target and shoot flies when they land. Now thats some fun right there.

I have in fact shot a 22lr a few different times, from cans in fields to squirrels, I think I've even tried to shoot crows with it, but that was a few years ago, probably 7 or 8?

I have also looked at the Remington Model 770, cheaper, which helps out my family a bit, however I have no idea how reliable it is, I might pop over to Dicks Sporting goods tomorrow, See if they have any in stock and maybe try out a few, for size that is

The 770 comes in 243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem., 270 win, 30-06 Spring, 308 win (intrests me, if the recoil is too much I can always throw on a recoil pad, cheap and effective, took off almost all recoil on a 870 12 ga. Pump) 7mm Rem Mag, and 300 win Mag

It's also not 800 some dollars, The only way I can really fore see getting the 700 would be if I went 50/50 on it, which is still a lot regardless, the reason I was thinking 770 was... It's price range and variety of calibers it comes in, I wasn't necessarily trying to match something to the 700, I understand that the 700 is a great rifle, it's just that seems to just be not an option at this point.

There's also the 783, Must say i'm a fan of Remington's, have yet to disappoint me in any way, I've always had an 870, from 20 ga. Youth model to 12 ga. as well as an 11-87 whose only flaw is a gasket that keeps coming loose which prevents it from cycling correctly. (easy fix just haven't had an opportunity to get it out and fiddle with it after Turkey season)

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